’WPC$ ¾w ³?Ėõk·†;”HyÕd‘ZBołn-„lm¬ 5ķ”"ĢpA^wpŪ>5;WYį¬wöU±³#rĒ[šm¤ąøe‚;ü¤śQ’ó愝xI8xē"„ŠžįŒĢpT\ÅnōėV`‘«ĆĶ¦½jvA[÷’ēpUa¤IÓbµ»©9õ. 7Ä”NˆW¦ƒøģÕń[Ķ‘sI4ع/ćŖ^—Õ™hzŖ9bīõGĖĪ“dŃįÉ%Ī€X±#dÆēåEU/ė<} ‡•hĶtgIO:y£{ž¦ŗ“&šÅ.u¤S!¹Ā‚ę/xTü«å8å“AEwV “®W÷ćQ ėČv 04t&Ø 0XĪ 1‰& 7Æ 0c¾ L! 0Vm 0KĆ D- Ę; AŸ ąZ  UBś A—< ^Ó Ó A—111 A—ČČČ A—___ A—ööö A— A—$$$ A—»»» A—RRR A—ééé A—€€€ A— A—®®®® A—EEE A—ÜÜÜ A—ss0  A—:LŃŃ A— A—“““ A—KKK A—āāā A—yyy A— A—§§§ A—>>> A—ÕÕÕ A—lllU6#É9UN" %P"NV" 1uX" 72Ķ" 0N’"’"’"^ M#wY#4]#q#€# m‚#b™#™#U@³# Bó#E$( ;$””Ō US Ō doubleminded@±\0Custom1Custom1Ō2ŌŌ3  Ō8s¢?OW]ciou{Custom2Custom2(1)1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(;3£$““Ō2#ŌŚ  Ś0Ś  Ś.Ō3  Ōą0  ąhttp://www.fortheloveofthefamily.com/(.3żD$££Ż ƒ;!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  Ż( ±ž$’’ņ ņFigure€Ś  Ś1Ś  Śó ó)!ČČČČdd Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5  ‘ I&mage!<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’ HKKKK8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE*rÄ pZ‹*TimesNewRomanPSMT  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’http://www.earnestlycontendingforthefaith.com/  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’http://webmaila.juno.com/webmail/new/21?folder=Inbox&msgNum=0000Qwk0:001BWYQ2000020Iz&count=1266960091&attachId=0&isUnDisplayableMail=yes&blockImages=0  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’http://www.hopebaptistlittlerock.com/  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’  ‰ I&mage<<=8’’’’’’’’’’C’’®”zZ‹Times-Roman˜Canon MG6200 series Printerģ . .ģ 0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularcX3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)fi)(ĶO$——Ō’ŌņņóóŌ’Ō„jCōČ6PCntFold3|x’U‹’’’’Page ł of &ł(ÖĆ9 Z‹(Times New Roman  dŻ ƒ;!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŌ€aX߯XXcXŌŌ‡sX¤XXaX߯ŌÓ  ÓŌ€sW¤XXsX¤ŌŃ€qŃŃ8€c¤cXXdģdČ8Ńņ ņŌ‡sX¤XXsW¤ŌThe€following€article€is€posted€in€its€entirety€Ō_ŌŌ_ŌŌ_ŌwithŌ_Ō€the€express€written€consent€of€Pastor€TerryŠ ° ŠL.€Ō_ŌCoomer€to€Ō4‚Ż P ŌŻ‚hĶOŻŌ’ŌņņŻ  ŻŌ5  Ōhttp://www.earnestlycontendingforthefaith.com/Ō6āŌŻ‚hĶOöƒŻóóŌ’ŌŻ  ŻŌ7Ż n$Ō€.Ō#†aX߯XXsX¤]#ŌŌ‡X¤XXaX߯ŌŌ#†aX߯XXX¤Ś#ŌŌ‡sX¤XXaX߯ŌŌ#†sW¤XXsX¤ń#ŌŌ‡sX¤XXsW¤ŌŌ_ŌŠ œģ ŠÓ  ÓņņóóŌ#†sW¤XXsX¤^#ŌŌ‡s°n°XsW¤ŌŌ’ŌFor€the€Love€of€the€Family€Ministries€ņņTMóóŠ ˆŲ ŠŌ#†sW¤X°s°n×#ŌŌ‡s¼ō4»XsW¤ŌMissionaries€to€America's€Forgotten€Mission€Field,€the€Family€Š \¬ ŠRearing€Spiritual€Children€Part€2Š p Ą ŠDr.€Terry€L.€Coomer,€Pastor€Š „ Ō ŠMinistry€of€Hope€Baptist€ChurchŠ ˜ č Š139€Shadow€Oaks€DriveŠ ¬ ü ŠSherwood,€AR€72120Š Ą   Š501-819-0446Š Ō$  ŠŌ4‚?Ż  ŌŌ5  ŌņņŌ#†sW¤X»s¼ō4l#ŌŌ‡sōA ņXsW¤Ōó óTLCOOMER@juno.comŌ6ėŌŌ7Ż 8’ŌóóŠ č8  ŠŌ#†sW¤X ņsōA /#ŌŌ‡sX¤XXsW¤ŌŌ4‚Ż Š ŌŌ5  Ōņņņ ņhttp://www.fortheloveofthefamily.comŌ6ŻŌŌ7Ż NńŌóóŠ ¬ü  ŠŌ4‚AŻ « ŌŌ5  Ōņņhttp://www.hopebaptistlittlerock.comŌ6^ŌŌ7Ż -rŌŌ’öŌó óŌ#†aX߯XXsX¤#ŌŌ‡sX¤XXaX߯ŌóóŠ ˜č  ŠÓ¢ÓŌ’Ōņ ņĢListen€to€Dr.€Coomer€on€the€worldwide€radio€broadcast€"For€The€Love€Of€The€Family"€everyŠ pĄ ŠSaturday€at€2:00€P.M.€and€9:00€P.M.€EST€onŌ’EŌŌ’Ō€ņņhttp://www.aocbroadcast.comŌ’ Ōóó.ó óŌ#†aX߯XXsX¤ž#ŌŌ‡sX¤XXaX߯ŌŠ \¬ ŠŌ#†aX߯XXsX¤q #ŌŌ‡sX¤XXaX߯Ōņ ņĢThese€messages€may€be€copied€in€their€entirety€to€help€Christians€in€the€rearing€of€theirŠ 4„ Šchildren€for€God,€strengthening€their€family,€and€their€marriage.€They€are€not€to€be€changedŠ  p Šin€any€manner€or€to€be€sold.€This€header€must€be€on€any€copy.€If€you€have€any€questions,Š  \ Šplease€feel€free€to€contact€the€author.Ō#†sW¤XXsX¤¾#ŌŌ#†aW߯XXsW¤Č #ŌŌ‡sW¤XXaW߯ŌŠ ųH ŠĢßA€tu) °°`xdE°Ļ`xAߊ Š  ŠŌšdŌŌ€sÆn°XsW¤ŌĢą@””ģąRearing€Spiritual€Children€Part€2ˆŠ S ŠĢßA€tu) °°TxdE°Ŗ TxAߊ « ū ŠĢŌšdŌŌ€sW¤X°sÆnŌEphesians€6:4,€10-18€ņņAnd,€ye€fathers,€provoke€not€your€children€to€wrath:€but€bring€them€up€inŠ Ņ"" Šthe€nurture€and€admonition€of€the€Lord.€Finally,€my€brethren,€be€strong€in€the€Lord,€and€in€theŠ ¾# Špower€of€his€might.€Put€on€the€whole€armor€of€God,€that€ye€may€be€able€to€stand€against€the€wilesŠ ¦$ö Šof€the€devil.€For€we€wrestle€not€against€flesh€and€blood,€but€against€principalities,€against€powers,Š Ž%Ž  Šagainst€the€rulers€of€the€darkness€of€this€world,€against€spiritual€wickedness€in€high€places.Š v&Ę!  ŠWherefore€take€unto€you€the€whole€armor€of€God,€that€ye€may€be€able€to€withstand€in€the€evil€day,Š ^'®"! Šand€having€done€all€to€stand.€Stand€therefore,€having€your€loins€girt€about€with€truth,€and€havingŠ F(–#" Šon€the€breastplate€of€righteousness:€And€your€feet€shod€with€the€preparation€of€the€gospel€ofŠ .)~$# Špeace;€Above€all€taking,€the€shield€of€faith€wherewith€ye€shall€be€able€to€quench€all€the€fiery€dartsŠ *f%$ Šof€the€wicked.€And€take€the€helmet€of€salvation,€and€the€sword€of€the€Spirit,€which€is€the€word€ofŠ ž*N&% ŠGod:€Praying€always€with€all€prayer€and€supplication€in€the€Spirit,€and€watching€thereunto€withŠ ę+6'& Šall€perseverance€and€supplication€for€all€saints.Š ° ŠĢó óóóIf€you€have€a€child,€they€will€be€reared€somehow,€someway.€The€desire€we€should€have€is€that€weŠ €Š Šrear€spiritual€children€who€have€a€real€hearts€desire€to€love€and€serve€the€Lord.€There€is€a€difference.Š l¼ ŠBy€way€of€review€from€our€last€message,€we€saw€that€not€only€does€God€tell€us€that€we€can€rearŠ XØ Šspiritual€children.€ņ ņHe€expects€us€to.€Then€the€question€is€why€are€we€failing€so€miserably?€ó óTheŠ D ” Šchildren€are€not€growing€up€to€love€and€serve€the€Lord.Š 4 „ ŠĢņ ņPsalm€127:3€ņņLo,€children€are€a€heritage€of€the€Lord:€and€the€fruit€of€the€womb€is€his€reward.Š  \ Šó óóóChildren€are€a€gift€from€God€for€safekeeping.€That€is€what€this€word€heritage€is€about.€I€said€last€timeŠ ų H  Šit€is€not€my€purpose€to€criticize€anyone.€God€knows€my€heart.€I€want€to€help.€All€I€can€tell€you€isŠ ä 4  Šwhat€the€Bible€teaches.€The€Bible€says,€ššGod€has€given€us€children€for€an€heritage,€safekeeping€forŠ Š  ŠHim.šš€Š ¼  ŠWe€also€saw€last€time€that€God€has€given€the€responsibility€to€fathers.€ņ ņEphesians€6:4€ņņAnd€yeŠ Øų  ŠŌb  ŌņņfathersóóŌb;Ō,€provoke€not€your€children€to€wrath:€but€bring€them€up€in€the€ņņnurtureóó€and€ņņadmonition€ofŠ ˜č  Šthe€LordóóŌbwŌó óóó.ŌbåŌŠ €Š  ŠĢProverbs€is€a€book€about€a€father€instructing€his€son€in€loving€and€living€for€God.€One€of€theŠ XØ Špurposes€of€Proverbs€is€to€tell€us€how€to€rear€spiritual€children.€Last€time€we€talked€about€ņ ņProverbsŠ D” Š22:6€ņņTrain€up€a€child€in€the€way€he€should€go€and€when€he€is€old€ó óóó(leaves€the€house)€ņ ņņņhe€will€notŠ 4„ Šdepartó óóó.€I€have€heard€many€interpretations€of€this€verse€and€unfortunately€most€of€thoseŠ $t Šinterpretations€try€to€explain€away€the€teaching€of€the€verse.€I€believe€this€is€a€real€spiritual€problemŠ ` Šfor€many€Christians€today.€I€want€you€to€notice€the€phrase€in€the€verse€ššin€the€wayšš.€The€failure€inŠ üL Šour€contemporary€society€to€see€real€spiritual€truth€is€clouded€by€what€the€devil€wants€to€do€in€ourŠ č8 Šlife.€Proverbs€14:12€watch€very€closely€the€phrase€in€this€verse.€ņ ņņņņņThere€is€a€wayóóŌbßŌ€ŌbŁŌwhich€ņņseemeth€rightŠ Ō$ Šunto€a€manóóŌbdŌ;€Ōb2Ōbut€the€end€thereof€are€the€ways€of€death.€ó óóóFolks,€by€our€sin€nature€we€desire€to€ņ ņņņgo€ourŠ Ą Šown€wayó óóó.€Jeremiah€17:9€tells€us€ņ ņņņthe€heart€is€deceitful€above€all€things,€and€desperately€wicked:Š ° Šwho€can€know€it?€ó óóóOur€old€nature€is€a€clone€of€Satanššs€nature.€ņ ņProverbs€14:14€ó óthe€ņ ņņņbackslider€inŠ  š Šheart€shall€be€filled€with€ņņhis€own€waysóóŌb@ Ō.€ŌbŌó óóóThere€are€many€passages€of€Scripture€that€tell€us€we€desireŠ ą Što€go€ņ ņour€own€wayó ó.€Judges€17:6,€Psalm€81:12,€Proverbs€3:5,7,€12:15,€23:4,€28:26,€Isaiah€5:21,Š |Ģ ŠRomans€12:16,€I€Corinthians€13:5,€Philippians€2:21,€II€Timothy€3:2,€Jude€16,€etc.Š l ¼ ŠĢFolks,€that€is€our€problem€and€our€childrenššs€problem.€We€desire€to€go€our€own€way,€not€Godššs€way.Š D"”  ŠI€am€convinced€that€many€Christians€are€failing€miserably€in€their€relationship€with€God€because€theyŠ 0#€! Šdo€not€understand€this€principle,€therefore,€they€try€to€explain€away€Proverbs€22:6€because€they€wantŠ $l" Što€live€their€own€way.€When€our€children€are€not€trained€to€understand€their€old€nature€and€how€toŠ %X # Šhave€a€relationship€with€God€then€we€have€the€miserable€results€we€have€today.€Most€of€our€churchesŠ ō%D!$ Šare€filled€with€activity€orientation€rather€than€dealing€with€the€issue€of€our€sin€nature€and€then€havingŠ ą&0"% Šour€families€understand€what€it€truly€means€to€have€a€relationship€with€God.€Our€children€must€beŠ Ģ'#& Štrained€to€understand€what€renewing€the€mind€is€about€(Romans€12:1-2).Š ø($' ŠĢThe€book€of€James€explains€where€we€are€and€we€are€blinded€spiritually€by€our€ņņlustsóó.€In€essence€theŠ *ą%) Šdesire€to€have€life€our€own€way.€James€4:1-4€ņņFrom€whence€come€wars€and€fightings€among€you?Š |+Ģ&* ŠCome€they€not€hence,€even€of€your€ņņlustsóóŌbž&Ō€Ōb'$Ōthat€war€in€your€membersóó?€ņņYe€ņņlustóóŌbQ'Ō€Ōbu$Ōand€have€not:€ye€kill€andŠ ° Šdesire€to€have€and€cannot€obtain:€ye€fight€and€war;€yet€ye€have€not,€because€ye€ask€not.€Ye€ask,€andŠ œģ Šreceive€not,€because€ye€ask€amiss,€that€ye€may€consume€it€upon€your€ņņlustsóó.€Ye€adulterers€andŠ ˆŲ Šadulteresses,€know€ye€not€that€the€friendship€with€the€world€is€enmity€with€God?€WhosoeverŠ tÄ Štherefore€will€be€a€friend€of€the€world€is€the€enemy€of€God.ņ ņŠ `° ŠĢó óóóThis€desire€to€have€and€go€our€own€way€comes€from€our€own€lust.€ņ ņJames€1:14€ņņó óBut€every€man€isŠ 4 „ Štempted,€when€he€is€drawn€away€of€his€own€lust,€and€enticedóó.€Our€old€nature,€the€clone€of€Satan€thatŠ $ t Šdwells€in€us,€desires€to€have€its€own€way.€Do€you€realize€the€Bible€tells€us€that€each€of€us€have€ourŠ  ` Šown€special€lusts?€They€may€be€a€little€different€from€the€next€guy€but€they€are€all€rooted€in€goingŠ ü L  Šour€own€way.€The€Bible€calls€them€the€ņ ņņņdesires€of€the€mind€ó óóóin€Ephesians€2:3.€They€are€created€by€theŠ č 8  Šņ ņņņway€we€thinkó óóóŌbš+Ō.€Ōb)ŌFolks,€all€of€us€are€born€with€certain€natural€desires€like€food,€water,€air€etc.€MostŠ Ō$  Šof€the€rest€of€the€things€we€desire€are€learned€from€our€surroundings.€They€have€been€nurtured,Š Ä  Štaught€from€the€earliest€stages€of€our€life.€We€learn€from€our€family,€culture,€and€peers€to€desireŠ °  Šcertain€things€as€we€grow€older.€Example:€a€baby€comes€out€of€the€womb€hungry,€but€he€doesnšštŠ œģ  Šcome€out€of€the€womb€for€an€innate€desire€for€rock€music!€Folks,€that€is€the€reason€Ephesians€6:4Š ˆŲ  Štells€us€to€bring€our€children€up€in€the€ņ ņņņnurture€and€admonition€of€the€Lord.€ó óóóWe€will€nurture€GodššsŠ tÄ Šway€or€we€will€nurture€them€to€desire€to€have€their€own€way.€This€is€the€real€problem€today.€ManyŠ `° Špeople€try€to€explain€away€Proverbs€22:6€because€they€do€not€truly€understand€their€own€relationshipŠ Lœ Što€God€and€therefore€cannot€convey€the€teaching€of€the€verse€to€their€children.€Remember€ProverbsŠ 8ˆ Š22:6€tells€us€to€ņ ņņņTrain€up€a€child€in€the€way€he€should€go.€ó óóóWhat€way€is€that?€Godššs€way€is€the€aspectŠ $t Šof€the€Christian€understanding€his€old€nature€wants€to€go€his€own€way€not€Godššs€way.€Folks,€you€andŠ ` ŠI€can€try€to€make€the€old€nature€religious,€and€put€a€pretty€face€on€it€but€it€does€not€work.€This€mustŠ üL Šbe€done€Godššs€way€and€that€is€what€Proverbs€22:6€is€about.€It€is€about€training€the€child€not€to€goŠ č8 Šhis€own€way€but€to€truly€understand€he€has€to€be€trained€in€having€a€real€spiritual€relationship€withŠ Ō$ ŠGod.€Much€of€what€is€going€on€today€in€the€church€is€deceptive€because€many€Christians€areŠ Ą Šdeceived€about€their€relationship€to€God.€Therefore,€they€cannot€rear€and€train€their€children€for€GodŠ ¬ü Šbecause€they€have€never€learned€how€not€to€go€ņ ņņņtheir€own€wayó óóó.€Unfortunately,€many€pastors€are€inŠ ˜č Šthis€category€as€well€and€they€are€leading€their€people€in€this.€When€their€children€do€not€grow€upŠ ˆŲ Što€serve€God,€they€are€perplexed€and€want€to€explain€away€Proverbs€22:6€because€it€is€not€theŠ tÄ Šexperience€of€their€life.€Rightfully€so,€because€they€are€going€their€own€way.€ņ ņGalatians€6:7€ó óššņ ņņņņņBe€notŠ ` ° ŠdeceivedóóŌbq6Ō;€ŌbÆ2ŌGod€is€not€mocked,€for€whatsoever€a€man€ņņsowethóóŌb47Ō€Ōb3Ōthat€shall€he€also€reap.ó óó󚚀This€verse€isŠ P!  Šwritten€to€Christians.€So,€it€is€possible€for€folks€to€be€deceived€about€their€spiritual€relationship€withŠ <"Œ  ŠGod.€Why,€because€they€want€to€go€their€own€way.€They€are€following€their€old€nature.€Our€oldŠ (#x! Šnature€is€wicked€and€vile.€We€cannot€trust€it€and€we€can€never€let€our€guard€down.€We€are€told€inŠ $d" Šthe€Bible€to€mortify€the€flesh€and€we€have€to€train€our€children€to€spiritually€do€so.Š %P # ŠĢSo,€dad€must€have€a€real€spiritual€relationship€with€God.€How€does€he€have€it?€The€old€nature€wantsŠ Ų&("% Što€go€his€own€way.€The€old€nature€is€very€powerful€in€our€life.€The€book€of€James€again€explainsŠ Ä'#& Šthis.€Satanššs€sin€was€one€of€pride€and€independence€from€God.€Our€old€nature€wants€us€to€beŠ °($' Šindependent€of€God.€Keep€in€mind€that€most€Christians€would€be€in€this€category.€Therefore,€surelyŠ œ)ģ$( Šour€children€will€be€as€well€if€we€do€not€change€that.€James€4:6-10€š šBut€he€giveth€more€grace,Š ˆ*Ų%) ŠWherefore€he€saith,€ņņGod€resisteth€the€proud€óóbut€giveth€more€grace€to€the€ņņhumbleóó.€Submit€yourselvesŠ t+Ä&* Štherefore€to€God,€resist€the€devil€and€he€will€flee€from€you.€Draw€nigh€to€God,€and€he€will€draw€nighŠ ° Što€you.€Cleanse€your€hands,€ye€sinners:€and€purify€your€hearts€ye€doubleminded.€Be€afflicted,€andŠ œģ Šmourn,€and€weep;€let€you€laughter€be€turned€into€mourning,€and€your€joy€to€heaviness.€ņņHumbleŠ ˆŲ Šóóyourselves€in€the€sight€of€the€Lord,€and€he€shall€lift€you€up.ššŠ tÄ ŠĢFolks,€the€first€place€to€start€in€having€a€relationship€with€God€is€to€understand€the€place€ofŠ L œ Šusefulness€starts€with€repentance.€The€place€of€usefulness€is€ņņhumilityóó.€The€old€nature€is€one€of€pride,Š 8 ˆ Šrebellion,€and€independence.€The€devilššs€goal€is€to€break€your€fellowship€with€God€and€render€youŠ $ t Šuseless€for€service€to€your€redeemer,€Jesus€Christ.€To€have€a€relationship€with€God€means€we€ņņhumblóóeŠ  ` Šourselves€before€Him.€We€come€to€the€place€of€submitting€our€pride,€our€arrogance,€our€rebellion,Š ü L  Šand€our€self-will€to€Him.€True€humility€means€to€be€willing€to€repent€and€forsake€our€sins€and€putŠ č 8  Šourselves€under€the€hand€of€our€Lord.€Most€Christians€are€seeking€to€live€the€Christian€life€inŠ Ō$  Šself-effort.€Therefore€we€fail,€because€we€do€not€understand€the€place€of€humility€and€utterŠ Ą  Šdependence€upon€God.€Then€and€only€then€will€we€have€a€true€relationship€with€Him.€Then€and€onlyŠ ¬ü  Šthen€will€we€start€to€understand€what€Proverbs€22:6€is€about.€Someone€says,€ššPastor€Coomer,€I€knowŠ ˜č  Ša€family€that€had€one€child€that€lived€for€God€and€one€child€that€did€not.€How€do€you€explain€that?ššŠ „Ō  ŠI€have€seen€this€just€recently€in€a€family.€Three€of€the€children€are€not€living€for€God€and€one€is.€IŠ pĄ Šhave€talked€to€the€parents€and€the€children.€The€parents€did€not€have€a€clue€of€what€it€meant€to€haveŠ \¬ Ša€spiritual€relationship.€The€child€that€did€live€for€God€had€some€caring€teachers€and€adults€whoŠ H˜ Šhelped€him€to€learn€what€it€meant€to€have€a€spiritual€relationship€with€God.€The€parents€had€failedŠ 4„ Šand€they€still€did€not€realize€it.€They€still€talked€about€how€they€had€done€all€they€could€do.€In€theirŠ  p Špride€and€arrogance€they€were€going€on€their€own€way.€This€is€a€family€that€did€not€have€a€clue€aboutŠ  \ Šwhat€it€meant€to€have€a€real€relationship€with€God€and€were€leaders€in€their€church.€Their€decisionŠ ųH Šmaking€process€was€flawed€by€their€desire€to€go€their€own€way.€Three€of€the€children€learned€thatŠ ä4 Šnurturing€from€their€parents€who€were€leaders€in€their€local€church.€This€is€the€sad€state€of€affairsŠ Š  Štoday€in€many€churches.Š ¼  ŠĢMany€churches€today€will€tell€the€Christian€they€must€deal€with€sin€in€their€life€to€have€fellowshipŠ ”ä Šwith€God€and€end€it€there.€This€is€true,€but€it€is€not€the€end€in€itself.€We€must€certainly€ask€God€toŠ €Š Šshow€us€any€sin€in€our€life€that€stands€between€Him€and€us.€We€must€do€this€every€day.€I€do€thisŠ l¼ Ševery€morning€when€I€start€my€day.€I€ask€God€to€show€me€if€there€is€any€sin€that€stands€between€HimŠ X Ø Šand€me.€We€then€must€confess€and€repent€from€that€sin€with€the€intention€of€forsaking€the€sin.€ThenŠ D!” Šwe€have€fellowship.€ņņNow€we€are€on€speaking€terms€with€Godóó.Š 0"€  ŠĢLet€me€see€if€I€can€get€this€across.€In€the€book€of€Ephesians€the€Apostle€Paul€explains€that€theŠ $X" Šrelationship€between€Christ€and€the€church€is€like€the€marriage€of€a€husband€and€a€wife.€In€fact€theŠ ō$D # ŠBible€says,€that€the€church€is€the€bride€of€Christ.€When€we€get€saved€we€become€part€of€the€churchŠ ą%0!$ Šor€the€bride€of€Christ.€Ephesians€5€explains€the€intimacy€of€that€relationship.€Watch€closely,€I€justŠ Ģ&"% Šexplained€how€to€get€on€speaking€terms€with€God.€My€relationship€with€my€wife€would€be€prettyŠ ø'#& Šmiserable€if€all€we€were€ever€on€was€just€ņņspeaking€termsóó.€There€is€a€whole€lot€more€to€having€aŠ ¤(ō#' Šrelationship€than€just€being€on€speaking€terms.€Listen€to€me€carefully,€my€relationship€with€God€mustŠ )ą$( Šbe€a€ņņpassionate€óórelationship!€I€need€to€seek€after€God.€ššDraw€nigh€to€God€and€he€will€draw€nigh€toŠ |*Ģ%) Šyou.šš€I€need€to€love€the€Lord.€I€must€passionately€seek€after€Him.€It€is€more€than€just€being€onŠ h+ø&* Šspeaking€terms.€Then€and€only€then€will€he€reveal€himself€to€me.€ņņWe€must€have€a€dependentŠ ° Špersonal€relationship€with€our€Lord.€This€is€a€true€passionate€love€relationship.€óóIt€is€my€responsibilityŠ œģ Što€develop€in€my€wife€and€children€a€passionate€desire€for€the€Lord.€It€is€my€responsibility€as€yourŠ ˆŲ Špastor€to€develop€in€you€a€passionate€desire€for€the€Lord.Š tÄ ŠĢFolks,€knowing€God€requires€two€things:€First€of€all,€knowing€God€requires€that€we€have€a€desireŠ L œ Šfor€God.€Secondly,€knowing€God€requires€that€we€seek€Him.€Hebrews€11:6€š šBut€without€faith€it€isŠ 8 ˆ Šimpossible€to€please€him:€for€he€that€cometh€to€God€must€believe€that€he€is€and€that€he€is€a€rewarderŠ $ t Šof€them€that€ņņdiligently€seek€himóó.ššŠ  ` ŠLet€me€end€this€message€by€saying€what€is€happening€today€is€that€many€Christians€are€living€forŠ ü L  Štheir€own€way,€their€own€lusts.€Therefore,€they€are€teaching€their€children€to€live€for€their€own€wayŠ č 8  Šor€lusts.€What€must€happen€is€that€we€train€our€children€to€go€Godššs€way€not€their€own€way.€ThisŠ Ō$  Šstarts€with€learning€how€to€deal€with€our€own€lusts,€dealing€with€our€own€way,€and€then€training€ourŠ Ą  Šchildren€not€to€go€their€own€way,€but€as€Proverbs€22:€6€says€ššTrain€up€a€child€in€the€way€he€shouldŠ ¬ü  Šgo,€and€when€he€is€old€(leaves€the€house)€he€will€not€depart.šš€I€believe€God€and€what€he€says.€ThatŠ ˜č  Šis€Godššs€promise.€Remember€I€have€to€be€in€the€position€as€a€father€to€train€my€children€in€theŠ „Ō  Šnurture€and€admonition€of€the€Lord.€I€cannot€even€begin€to€do€that€unless€I€have€a€real€spiritualŠ pĄ Šrelationship€with€God.Š \¬ ŠĢIn€the€next€message€we€will€see€what€the€scripture€says€about€conveying€that€relationship€to€ourŠ 4„ Šchildren.€That€is€what€Proverbs€22:6€is€about.€We€must€train€our€children€to€have€a€real,€dependent,Š  p Šspiritual,€passionate€relationship€with€their€Lord.€In€learning€how€to€convey€that€relationship€we€willŠ  \ Šlearn€more€about€developing€our€own€intimate,€personal,€dependent,€passionate€relationship€with€ourŠ ųH ŠLord.Ō#†aW߯XXsW¤¤ #Ō